An extremist Jewish organization on Thursday disseminated leaflets in
the Old City of Jerusalem calling for the demolition of the al-Aqsa
Mosque, Palestinian residents said.

The residents told Ma’an that
as they left their homes in the morning they found thousands of
leaflets in Hebrew scattered in all roads and alleys including the
alleys leading to al-Aqsa Mosque.

The leaflets were signed by an extremist Israeli organization called “Going back to the (Temple) Mount”.

“In
respect of the Jerusalem Day, let’s all ask the government of Israel to
tear down all mosques on Temple Mount in order to be able to rebuild
Beit Hamikdash (the Holy Temple) and renew sacrifice works,” the leaflet
reads.

Another Palestinian fisherman has been shot and injured by Israeli forces off the northern Gaza Strip, according to medical officials. Also on Friday, a car belonging to a Jewish settler was hit by "small arms fire" while traveling in the central West Bank, according to Israeli military sources.

Ma'an reports that spokesman for the Gaza ministry of health, Ashraf al-Qidra, said that a 22-year-old Palestinian fisherman was injured after Israeli naval forces deployed off of the al-Sudaniya shore in northern Gaza city opened fire at his boat.

Ashraf was taken to Kamal Adwan hospital, following the incident, where his injury was reported as "moderate". The Israeli military did not immediately return calls in inquiry to the incident.

Reports of Israeli forces shooting at Gaza fisherman who stray "too far" from the shore are becoming increasingly frequent.

Israeli navy forces abducted, just this Wednesday, three fishermen working off the Rafah coast, in the southern Gaza Strip. Additionally, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has recently released a report stating that life in the Gaza Strip has become unbearable due to the imposed siege and the closure of crossings:

Gaza has been severe blockade imposed by Israel and enforced by Egypt since 2007. Palestinian fishermen are only allowed to go three nautical miles from Gaza's shore, even though the previous agreement settled on 20 nautical miles.

Ma'an reports that there are 4,000 fishermen in Gaza and, according to a 2011 report by the International Committee of the Red Cross 90 percent are ipoverished -- an increase of 40 percent from 2008.

The economic crisis is a direct result of Israeli disenfranchisement of the fishing industry.

In the West Bank, on Friday afternoon, Ma'an reports that a car belonging to a Jewish-Israeli settler was hit by "small arms fire" while traveling in the central West Bank.

The shots hit the car while it was traveling near the Jewish-only settlement of Geva Benyamin, near the Palestinian village of al-Ram, the army said in a statement.

No injuries were reported.

In occupied East Jerusalem, today, hundreds of Palestinian Muslim worshipers were forced to pray in the streets of Jerusalem's Old City after Israeli authorities again imposed regulations on worshippers trying to enter the Al-Aqsa mosque compound for noon prayers.

More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements built across the West Bank, designated "Jewish-only", in direct defiance of international law which prohibits the transfer of civilians from the occupying population onto occupied territory.

Many of the so-called "settlements" have been built directly on lands which have been confiscated from local Palestinian communities, with roads and other facilities being constructed for exclusive Jewish use.

Israeli soldiers have again surfaced in recently publicized video footage, on Wednesday, as they violently beat a Palestinian elderly in al-Aqsa mosque compound, occupied Jerusalem.

A number of soldiers appear in the footage as they surround a helpless
elderly man in the compound, Al Ray reports. One of the soldiers is
actually seen punching him before toppling him to the ground with the
other soldiers.

The man tried to escape. However, the soldiers violently restrained him
amidst massive outrage and protest from Palestinian civilians gathered
in the compound.

Al Aqsa mosque is an increasingly frequent site of attacks on Palestinians, by both soldiers and Israeli settlers.

Head of the global march to Jerusalem campaign Abdullah Obeidat said the global march event would be held on the sixth and seventh of next June in more than 80 cities in 42 countries around the world. Obeidat told a news conference on Wednesday at the headquarters of Jordanian trade unions that marches would be staged in the West Bank and the 1948 occupied lands and would be heading towards Jerusalem or the nearest point to the city, in addition to similar marches in some neighboring countries. He added that other marches would be taking place in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, some European and Latin countries, and other countries where there are Israeli embassies. The head of the campaign affirmed that this global march aims to attract the attention of the world to the Zionist dangers threatening Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites and Israel's attempts to Judaize the entire city.

Israeli settlers and representatives of Israeli Foreign Ministry stormed on Thursday morning al-Aqsa Mosque from the al-Magharbeh Gate amid tight police protection. SAFA News Agency quoted media director at the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage Mahmoud Abul Atta as saying that 66 Israeli settlers including 40 representatives of Israeli Foreign Ministry stormed al-Aqsa Mosque compound. He said that hundreds of Palestinian students have stationed since early morning in al-Aqsa Mosque and started shouting 'Takbir' protesting the settlers' break-in. Israeli police imposed tight restrictions on the students' access to the mosque, where they checked and scrutinized their identity cards before their entry, Abul Atta added. He pointed out that Israeli occupation authority had planned to facilitate settlers’ entry into al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday; however Palestinian worshipers' presence in the mosque had foiled the Israeli schemes and attempts to break into its squares. Jewish settlers performed Talmudic dances at the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday and chanted slogans calling for accelerating the establishment of their alleged Temple on the ruins of the holy mosque. The Foundation media director described these Israeli continued break-ins and violations in al-Aqsa Mosque while blocking entry of Muslims as a serious escalation aimed at paving the way for dividing the mosque temporally and spatially between Muslims and Jews. Abul Atta also pointed to Israeli attacks and Judaization schemes against Jerusalemites and their properties especially during Jewish holidays. Al-Aqsa Mosque was subjected on Wednesday to Israeli break-ins during which Israeli forces used batons and pepper gas against Palestinian worshipers, which led to several injuries among them.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian organizations in Europe participated in the signing of a petition asking the member states of the European Union and the UN to intervene to curb Israel's violations against occupied Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque. Senior official at "Europeans for Jerusalem" Yehya Abed told Quds Press on Wednesday that the petition, which was signed by more than 50 organizations and groups working throughout the European continent, aims to curb Israel's escalating Judaization activities in Jerusalem. Abed said that the petition urges the European Union and the UN to impose sanctions on Israel for its attempts to mutilate the historical heritage of Jerusalem city. The petition also highlights the Arab identity of the city and its Islamic and Christian history, he added. He also said that a number of events would be organized next June in numerous European cities on the 47th anniversary of the occupation of Jerusalem to draw the attention of Europeans to Israel's violations against the holy city.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu expressed his absolute rejection to divide the occupied city of Jerusalem. "Jerusalem is the heart of the nation of Israel." Israeli PM said.

The statement came during a festival held to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the 1976 Middle East war.

Israel occupied Jerusalem (Al-Quds) during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.

Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel, for his part, stressed he would not accept settlement freeze activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

“New housing units are being built in Jerusalem,” He revealed, pointing out that festive sessions will be held by the Israeli Knesset and the Israeli cabinet.

Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine are the Jewish civilian communities built on lands occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and in the Golan Heights.

Israeli settlement expansion has continued unabated, despite being condemned by almost all other nations and the UN.

Israeli Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan put Tuesday evening the foundation stone for a new Jewish synagogue called “Jewel of Israel” in the heart of the occupied city of Jerusalem during the Jewish festivals of “al-Quds Day”.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.

Several Israeli politicians and religious figures attended the ceremony such as: Nir Brakhat, the mayor of Jerusalem municipality, Rabbie Yisrael Ariel, the director of the “Temple Mount Institute” and Shmuel Rbenovic, Rabbi of the” Western Wall”.

Ariel expressed his desire to impose absolute sovereignty over al-Aqsa mosque, saying: “today, we have put another block of the building blocks of Jerusalem. This symbolic step aims to achieve the largest goal. Jerusalem is the heart of the nation.”

“We will continue building in all parts of the country particularly in Jerusalem,” he added, claiming that Jerusalem city is their holy city forever.

Israel occupied Al-Quds during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.

Clashes broke out in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound early Wednesday
between Palestinians and police, as thousands of right-wing Israelis
prepared to march through the Old City to mark Jerusalem Day.

But the Israeli news site Ynet reported that a police officer had been lightly injured.

It said the Al-Aqsa compound had been closed to visitors as a result of the clashes.

Police
were heavily deployed in the area as right-wing Israeli Jews prepared
to march through the Old City to celebrate what they call the
reunification of Jerusalem -- which Palestinians and the international
community see as the capture and occupation of the eastern portion of
the city during the 1967 war.

Earlier, locals said Palestinian
men under 50 and all Palestinian women were barred from entering the
mosque for dawn prayers. Men over 50 were required to leave their
identity cards with police when they entered.

Israeli authorities plan to establish a foundation corner for a large synagogue that will be built in the middle of the Old City of Jerusalem, about 200 meters from the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The synagogue will be called “The Jewel of Israel,” according to the Al-Aqsa Foundation.

The statement said there would be celebrations in which Israeli political and religious leaders will participate including Israel's Jerusalem mayor, Nir Brakat, housing minister Uri Ariel and deputy religious services minister Eli Ben Dahan.

The foundation said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had provided funding for construction of the synagogue with a budget of 50 million NIS set to be approved Wednesday.

“Israel plans to Judaise the entire Old City of Jerusalem and to attract Jewish and foreign tourists,” the foundations said.

It added that the building will have a space of 378 square meters, 275 of which will be used for the synagogue and 103 as a public park for the entrance of the synagogue.

The whole building space will be 1,400 square meters, it said.

The foundation, which is in charge of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, had said earlier that various Israeli nationalist organizations were calling for a march through the compound on Wednesday.

Thousands of Israeli Jews will attend, the organization said, adding that police would close roads in East Jerusalem during the march.

A recent rights report has warned against escalating violations of both Israeli authorities and settlers against Islamic and Christian holy shrines in Palestine, amounting to 525 over the past five years.

According to Al Ray, “The Settlers’ Violence & Violations against The Islamic & Christian Holy Shrines in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” report was issued in Arabic by Vienna-based ‘Friends of Humanity International’ organization, Gaza-based Center for Political and Development Studies (CPDS), and the Beirut-based Palestinian Association for Human Rights “Witness”.

The report highlights the organizations in question, their means, their sponsors and implications, as well as the extent to which Israel as an occupying power is committed to protecting pilgrims to Islamic shrines.

Additionally, the report stated that the violations took place almost daily, ranging from closure of places of worship, arson of mosques and churches, depriving the Palestinians of the right of access to places of worship, vandalism and destruction of property, physical assault, verbal abuse, threats and racist graffiti.

Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories which have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967. It is the target of frequent attacks by settlers and soldiers alike, with violations ever increasing.

Also in Jerusalem, an unidentified arsonist started a fire in Dormition Abbey church, late Monday, near the Old City of Jerusalem, a bishop told Ma'an, noting that the attack took place just following a mass the Pope had conducted there, earlier in the day, the last of his official visit.

"Someone entered the church and went down to the crypt, took a book that is used by pilgrims to a small room next to the organ, and set some wood crosses on fire," the Benedictine Abbot of the church, Nikodemus Schnabel, told AFP.

The church has also been subjected to attacks in the past, according to Ma'an. In 2013, suspected Jewish vandals sprayed "Christians are monkeys" and "price tag" on the walls and slashed the tires of cars around the church.

The Israeli police said they were investigating the fire.

A small fire also broke out in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, on Tuesday, but Father Ibrahim Faltas, economist of the Custody of the Holy Land, told Ma'an that a candle holder accidentally fell causing a curtain to light on fire.

He said the that fire caused minor damage to the Grotto of the Nativity.

More than 60 settlers, led by a number of extremist rabbis, broke into al-Aqsa yards via al-Magharba gate on Tuesday morning under heavy protection by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage warned of projected Israeli break-ins and desecration tours in holy al-Aqsa Mosque scheduled for Tuesday. The Foundation further spoke against the projected Israeli commemoration on Wednesday of the Occupation of Jerusalem and holy al-Aqsa Mosque. Several desecration tours were staged by a horde of extremist settlers in al-Aqsa amid protests by Palestinian students, who were present in the compound. According to the Director General of Holy al-Aqsa Mosque Omar al-Kiswani, violent clashes broke out Tuesday morning between the Muslim peaceful congregation and Israeli soldiers following attacks, documented in videos, by the IOF on an elderly sit-inner after he protested the provocative photo shootings of Muslim women. The break-ins were followed by IOF attacks on male and female students for protesting the arrest of their schoolmate for chanting “Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).” Israeli rapid deployment forces have been stationing since early morning hours at the main entrances to the mosque and in the alleys of the Old City so as to pave the way for the so-called Jerusalem Day. The Aqsa Foundation confirmed Occupied Jerusalem will always maintain its typically Islamic character: “Israeli occupation is futile and short-termed, just as all the other invading powers have come and left. Muslims will recover their Occupied Jerusalem.” The Foundation called for permanent sit-ins and mass-rallies in and around al-Aqsa until liberation comes true, Allah willing. In a related context, the Palestinian Minister of Endowment and Heritage Ismail Redwan said plans to build the so-called Jewel of Israel synagogue just 200 meters away from al-Aqsa, the nucleus of Occupied Jerusalem, aims at distorting the Islamic idiosyncrasy of the city and entrenching an alleged Jewish character within the area. According to Redwan, such a plan is part of a larger Judaization scheme targeting Occupied Jerusalem and holy al-Aqsa Mosque via break-ins, division plans, and desecration schemes, often carried out on a daily basis The so-called Jewel of Israel is not the first of its kind as other synagogues have been built near al-Aqsa.